Starter control for internal com



June 27, 193 9. M. H. ELKIN Re. 21,128

STARTER CONTROL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Original Filed Jan. 2 8, 1936 IN VENTORL Reia'sued June 27, 1939 STARTER common FOR. INTERNAL com- BUSTION ENGINES,

Manuel ll. Elkin, Elmira Heights, N. Y., assignor, 'by mesne assignments. to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind.,

Delaware Original No. 2,067,180, dated January Serial No.

a corporation of 61,209, January 28, 1936. Application for reissue October 1.59 .1938, Serial No.

16 Claims. (01. 29037) The present invention relates to a starter'control for internal combustion engines and more particularly to a semi-automatic control of the type in which a control member for the power plant is utilized to effect actuation of the starting I mechanism.

Semi-automatic starter controls in which the clutch pedal, the accelerator pedal, or other control member of the power plant is used to cause closure of the starting switch, have been proposed and used to some extent, but such as have been heretofore proposed have had certain disadvantages such as the interruption of the cranking operation if the control member is released, the restriction of motion of the control member to a definite position during cranking, etc. When vacuum-operated disabling means are used to prevent cranking while the engine is selfoperative, there is also the possibility of un- 20 desired actuation of the starting mechanism upon sudden opening of the throttle.

' It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel starter control of the abovedescribed type in which the original function 25 and operation of the control member is not affected in any way.

It is another objectto provide such a device in which after initiation of the cranking operation. it is not interrupted by further manipulation of the control member.

It is a further-object to, provide such a device in which actuation of the starting mechanism while the engine is self-operative is effectively prevented.

35 Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form 40 of the invention as applied to a conventional power plant layout, the electrical circuits being diagrammatically indicated; a

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the starting switch and control mechanism partly broken away to show the internal construction; and

Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional detail of a vacuum lock-out device.

Referring first to Fig. lot the drawing, there is illustrated an internal combustion engine i 50 having a carburetor 2, the throttle of which is controlled by accelerator pedal 3 through levers 4 and 5 and link 6. I

A starting motor I for the engine is arranged to be energized by a battery 8 by meansof leads 9 and ii and starting switch indicated generally at l2, the starting circuit being completed through the ground connections I3 and M.

According to the present invention, the starting switch I2 is constructed as shown in Fig. 2 and'comprises a fixed contact 15 connected to lead II, a fixed contact i6 connected'to the terminal post ll of the motor, and movable bridg ing contact I8 mounted on a plunger I! which is slidable through the core 2| of an electromagnet 22. The magnet 22 is preferably of the so-called ironclad type and is for that purpose provided with a cylindrical magnetic casing 23 extending level with the end of the core 2|. An

armature in the form of a disc 24 of magneticmaterial is suitably fixed on the plunger l9 in such position that when the armature is in engagement with the magnet, the switch member [8 engages contacts l5, l6. Contact I8 is preferably slidably mounted on plunger l9 and yieldably held against a stop 25 thereon by means of a spring 26 which is so arranged that the final movement of the armature 24 into contact with the poles of the magnet compresses the spring 26 so as to yieldingly force the contact I8 against contacts l5, l6.

A spring 21 is provided between the stop 25 on plunger l9 and the wall of the casing 28 of the switch wherebythe plunger i9 is normally positioned so that the armature 24 is out of the zone of effective influence of magnet 22. Energization of the magnet when the parts are in normal position will therefore not cause closure of the switch.

A bell crank lever 29 is pivoted at 3i on a guide member 32 suitably fixed to the casing 28 of the switch as by means of bolts 33. One arm 34 of the lever 29 is arranged to engage a head 35 on.

the'end of plunger I8 projecting from the switch I casing; The other arms of the lever is arranged to bear, preferably by means of a roller 31, on a sliding cam member 38 mounted to reciprocate in the guide 32 and provided with a low portion 39 and a high portion 4| connected by an inclined portion 42. Y When the parts are in normal position as shown in Fig. 2, the roller 31 bears on the low portion 39 of the cam, but when the cam member,

is moved in thedirectionof the arrow 0., the

roller 31 is raised by the inclined portion 42 onto the high portion 4! of the cam, thus causing the bell crank lever 29 to be rotated clockwise wherebythe arm 34 thereof causes the plunger IE to be moved inwardly, thus moving the armature 24 thereon into such proximity to the magnet 22 that energiaation thereof will attract the armature and cause closure of the switch.

Cam member 38 is arranged to be actuated by the accelerator pedal 3 by suitable means such as a link ll (Fig. l) connecting the cam member to the lever I which is actuated by the accelerator pedal as above set forth. A control circuit for electromagnet If is provided comprising amanual switch 46' connected to the battery lead 0, and leads ll, ll and 41'.

a vacuum lock-out device may also be used either separately or in conjunction with the Benerator for preventing undesired closure of the starting switch while the engine is self-operative. A preferred form of such device is illustrated in the form of a switch Ii mounted on the intake manifold 52 of the engine and having contacts 83 and 54 (Fig. 3) normally connecting the leads 46' and ll of the control circuit. A diaphragm ii subjected to intake vacuum holds contacts i3 and 54 open during self-operation of the engine.

A restricted e I8 is provided in the in-- let ofthe chamber ll of the vacuum switch in order to delay closure of the contacts until a predetermined time after the vacuum in the intake manifold is released.

In order to prevent interruption of cranking by opening pf contacts I3 and N during the cranking operation, a resistor i8 is shunted across the contacts, said resistor having such a value as to 'tacts ll, 54 closed, and the generator pass only sumcient current to energize the magnet 22 to a holding value. I

A backfire circuit breaker ll may also -be mounted on the intake manifold it of the engine and placed in series in the control circuit as indicated in order to prevent closure of the control circuit during backward rotation of the engine by virtue of pressure built up in the intake manifold. Such a circuit breaker is illustrated and described in the patent to Christian, No. 1,988,673, and no further description thereof is accordingly deemed necessary.

In operation, ancl starting with the'parts in their idle positions as illustrated. closure of the ignition switch 44 causes energization of the electromagnet 22 since the engine is stationary, condeener-i gized. The starting switch l5, I, II is not closed, however, since the armature II is out the none of influence of the electromagnet- 22.

Depression of the accelerator pedal I by the operator thereupon causes the bell crank lever 28 to be rotated clockwise by the action of the sliding cam member ll, the arrangement being such that when the throttle valveof carburetor I has been openedby the accelerator'to a posi-' tion suitable for starting the engine, the bell crank lever ll has pushed the plunger II inwardly suiiicient to bring the armature 2| within the zone of influence of electromagnet II. The electromagnet thereupon attractsthe armature II, moving the plunger II to complete the closure of the starting switch, hereupon the circuit from battery 0 through the;starting motor I is com-. pleted and cranking of the-"engine takes place in the usual manner.

It will be noted that the cam member 3! does not in any way interfere with the motion of the a1,1ae v acceleratorpedallsothatthethrottlemaybe [close the switch,

opened further or closed or placed in any desired position. Moreover, although contacts I3, 54 may be opened by the'intake vacuum ,during cranking, the electromagnet 22 remains energiaed sufliciently to hold the starting switch I! closed by virtue of current traversing the resistor ll. cranking is therefore not interrupted but continues until theengine starts.

When the engine becomes self-operative, rota- -tion of the generator G thereby causes suflicient electromotive force to be built up by the generator to oppose the voltage of the battery and cause deenergization of the electromagnet 22. The starting switch is thereupon permitted to open and remains opened thereafter as long as the engine is self-operative.

- It will be understood that other embodiments of the invention are'possible, that various changes might be made in the design of the parts and that other control elements might be utilized to operate the starting mechanism such, for-instance, as the clutch pedal or brake pedal of an automotive vehicle. a

what is claimed is: v

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine and a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch, a manually operable control member, and means operable thereby for moving the switch toward closed position but inoperative tov close the switch.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine and a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch, a manually operable control member, means operable thereby for moving the switch toward closed position but inoperative to close the switch, manually controlled means for energizing said switch sumcientiy to complete the closure thereof, and an engine-driven generator arranged tooppose energization of the switch.-

3. .In combination with. an internal combustion engine, a starting system therefor including amagnetic starting switch comprising an electromagnet and an armature movable thereby to said armature out of the zone of effective influence of the electromagnet, a manually operable control member, and means actuated thereby for moving the armature into the zone of influence of the magnet.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch comprising an elec- -:tromagnetand;an armature movable thereby to the switch, said armature out ofthe zone-of effective influence meanslfnormally maintaining of the electro-magnet, a manually operable control member for the engine, means actuated thereby for moving-the .armature into the zone of influence of the magnet but inoperative to. cause closure thereof, and means preventing energization of the magnet during self-operation i the engine 5. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch havingan electromagnet and an armature movable thereby to close the switch, a manually operable engine power control member, and means operable thereby to move said armature to partially close the switch but inoperative to eifect closure thereof, said means being so constructed that the control member is at all times free for normal operation.

means normally maintaining 6. In combination with an internal combustion 1 I a v ,4 i

engine anda starting system therefor including a starting switch, a manually operable engine power control member, means actuated by said control member for moving said switch toward closed position but inoperative to effect closure thereof, and means then operative for closing said switch andmaintaining said switch closed irrespective of movement of the control member.

I. In combination with an internal combustion engine and a starting system therefor including a starting switch, a manually operable engine power control member, means actuatedby said control member for partially closing said switch but incapable of electing closure thereof, and manually controlled means for moving the switch from itspartially closed to its fully closed position.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a starting system therefor including a starting switch, a manually operableengine power member for moving the switch from its partially closed to its fully closed position, and means responsive to self-o tion of the engine for rendering said man controlled means inoperative.

ii. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a starting system therefor including a starting switch. means normally maintaining'said switch open, manually operable means for controlling the fuel supply to the engine, means actuated by operation thereof to partially close the starting switch, and manually controlled means for completing the closurepf the starting switch and maintaining the same closed irrespective of movement of the means for controlling the fuel 10. Incombination with an internal combustion engine, a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch having an electromagnet and an armature movable thereby to close the switch, means normally maintaining said switch open and the armature out of the zone of influence of the eiectro-magnet, manually operable means'for controlling the fuel supply to the engine, means actuated by operation thereof to partially close the starting switch andmove said armature into the zone of eifectiveness of the electromagnet, and manually controlled means for energising said electromagnet to complete the closure of the starting switch and hold it closed irrespective of subsequent movement of the fuels controlling means.

ii. In combination with an tion engine, a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch having an electromagnet and an armature movable thereby to close the switch, meansnormally maintaining said switch open and the armature out ofthe sons of influence of the electromagnet, manually operable means for controlling the fuel supply to the engine, means actuated by an initial thereof to partially close the starting switch and move said armature into the cone of effectiveness internal of the electromagnet, manually controlled means for energizing said electromagnet, and an enginedriven generator arranged to oppose energisation of'sald electromagnet.

12. In combination with an internal combusg tion engine having an intake manifold. a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch, a manual control member vi'or the engine, means actuated thereby for partially closing said switch, means energizing said switch to complete the closure thereof, and, means responsive to variations of pressure in said intake manifold for preventing such closure of said 13. In combination with aninternal combustion 15 engine having an'intake manifold, a starting systern therefor including a magnetic starting switch, a manual control member for the engine, means actuated thereby for partially closing said switch, means energizing said switch to compiqe the closure thereof, means responsive to variations of in said intake manifold for preventing such closure of said switch, and means for holdingxsaid switch closed irrespective of the operation of the pressure-responsive means.

14. In combination with an internal combustion'enginehaving van intake manifold. a starting system therefor including a magnetic starting switch, a manual control member for the engine, means actuated thereby for partially clos-' ing said switch, means said switch to complete the closure thereof, means responsive to variations of pressure in said intake manifold for preventing such closure of said switch, means for holdingsaid switchclosedirrespective ofthe gs operation of the pressure-responsive means, and means responsive to self-operation of the engine for dee said'holding'means.

15. A controlling device for the switches of electric starters of internal combustion enginea'incl'uding a starter switch, electromagnetic operating means, a switch operating element. a controlelementforanemnepartotherthanthe starienmeansconnectedtheretotobringsaid operating element into range of the electromagnetic operating means,said electromagnetic operating means including a holding coll operable to disconnect said control element from said switch operating element.

l6.'A controlling device for the switches of electric starters of internal combustion including a starter switch, electromagnetic operating means, a switch operating element, a control element for an engine part other than the starter. means connected thereto to bring said operating elementinto range of the electromag 'neticoperatingmeanI aId electromagnetmeans including a holding coil operable to disconnect said'control element from said switch operative element,andmeanstocontroltheoperationot.

saidcmeansaccordingtothevoltageofaligiitillgdyuainodrivenfromtheengine-v V and independently of the position of the control mun-mm. g 

